Pennsylvania SB 1341: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for community-engaged schools; establishing the Community-Engaged School for Success Pilot Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1734
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1341
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY LANGERHOLC, BARTOLOTTA, PHILLIPS-HILL, BROOKS,
STEFANO AND BOSCOLA, MAY 20, 2026
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MAY 20, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," providing for community-engaged
schools; establishing the Community-Engaged School for
Success Pilot Program; and imposing duties on the Department
of Education.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XV-O
COMMUNITY-ENGAGED SCHOOLS
Section 1501-O. Scope of article.
This article relates to the Community-Engaged School for
Success Pilot Program.
Section 1502-O. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
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context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Community-engaged school." A school that is designated by
the secretary to participate in the program and is engaged in
developing and implementing a community engagement plan to
provide engaged student support services.
"Community partner." A community group, parent organization,
early childhood learning program, business organization, dental
care provider, health care provider, mental health provider,
civic organization, local governmental agency, school employee
organization, institution of higher education or other
organization that is able to provide engaged student support
services to students in a school setting.
"Coordinator." An individual who works full time within a
community-engaged school, in consultation with school leaders
and staff, to promote and coordinate the provision of engaged
student support services.
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Engaged student support services." Supplemental services
provided by school personnel or community partners, or both, to
students in a school setting that remove academic and
nonacademic barriers to success but do not supplant services
provided under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement
entered into in accordance with the act of July 23, 1970
(P.L.563, No.195), known as the Public Employe Relations Act.
The term includes the following services:
(1) Academic assistance.
(2) Behavior interventions.
(3) Community and service learning.
(4) Family engagement.
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(5) Mental health services.
(6) Health care services.
(7) Dental health services.
(8) Basic needs.
(9) College and career preparation.
(10) Enrichment activities.
(11) Life skills.
"Program." The Community-Engaged School for Success Pilot
Program established under section 1503-O.
"Program manager." A nonprofit community-based organization
that works on behalf of a community-engaged school or schools to
identify, implement, manage and evaluate the provision of
engaged student support services to students.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
Section 1503-O. Community-Engaged School for Success Pilot
Program.
The Community-Engaged School for Success Pilot Program is
established under the department.
Section 1504-O. Community-engaged school eligibility.
Any school operated by a school district in this Commonwealth
is eligible for designation by the secretary as a community-
engaged school if it meets at least one of the following
criteria:
(1) The school is ranked in the lowest 15% of the
school's designation as an elementary school or a secondary
school based on combined mathematics and reading scores from
the annual assessment administered in the previous school
year.
(2) The school is located in a school district where the
acute poverty percentage as calculated under section 2502.53
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is equal to or greater than 30%, and the school's enrollment
is representative of the school district's acute poverty
percentage.
Section 1505-O. Community-engaged school designation.
(a) Application.--A school that seeks to be designated as a
community-engaged school must submit an application to the
department in a form and with information as determined by the
department.
(b) Duty of secretary.--No later than September 30, 2026,
the secretary shall designate no less than 20 schools that have
applied for designation under this article as community-engaged
schools.
(c) Requirements of designees.--A school designated by the
secretary as a community-engaged school shall:
(1) Appoint a program manager for th